Laura Keathley

HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

Mrs. Keathley received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and minor in Special Education from The University of Arizona and her Master’s of Education in Special Education focused on Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders from The University of Texas. She then worked for Texas Tech University as an Academic Counselor and Introductory Seminar Instructor guiding students with learning disabilities through their transition to college. 

In January 2016, Mrs. Keathley joined the New Way family as a member of the transition team. Laura focused her efforts on expanding our community network to include alternative post-secondary pathways, not just those for college-bound students. She piloted our annual Transition Inspiration Fair, reinvented our elective field trips, and strengthened our community college collaborations. In the summer of 2019, Mrs. Keathley began her role as Director of Admissions. She focused her systems on efficiently guiding families through the admissions process, ensuring each student had their unique needs met. If New Way wasn’t found to be the best fit, Laura connected with local organizations to ensure each applicant found their ideal learning, social and emotional environment.

In the summer of 2020, Laura moved into her current role as the Head of Lower School. Mrs. Keathley is passionate about fostering a well-supported elementary experience for our littlest bulldogs. She understands the unique role of staff and parent collaboration and believes it is a cornerstone of early education success. 

In her free time, Laura loves nothing more than spending time with her family including her husband, Blake, and daughters Clara (2.5 years) and Isabel (6 months). On the weekends you can find them walking the neighborhood, swinging at the local park, trying new restaurants, and dancing around their kitchen.